Biggest Loser Club: Staying on track

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  Posted by WOWAGAIN Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:00am PST

  Weight is a crazy thing. I exercise 6 days a week, boxing and step aerobics, eat 1000 calories a day just to maintain my weight. The doctor said he will not let me go lower than 1000 cals a day. Genetics play a big part. My doc. said I'm healthy, low cholest. blood pressure, and blood sugar levels are good, so be happy. I could probably up them to 1200 and be safe, but I'm scared of gaining weight. Pray and watch what you eat. Those are the only suggestions I can think of. Not easy.

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  Posted by Bri Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:26am PST

  I've been the same size... pretty much since about 16. Maybe about 10 lbs added and lost here and there, but I'm perfectly healthy and active. I don't watch what I eat, usually, mostly because everything I eat is healthy. I hate fast food simply because I do not because I'm watching what I eat. Most of it's grease and just plain gross. Now don't get me wrong, I'll grab a burger every now and then but mostly I'm a health food nut just because it tastes good. I exercise when I remember to, but in my job I do alot of walking so getting me on a treadmill is a rare thing.

  I'm not skinny as a rail, I'm not super model thin, but I'm not grossly overweight either. Could I stand to lose more weight? Sure, but I can't. It would drive me to an unhealthy lifestyle if I even attempted it. So be happy with who you are. You're beautiful just the way you were made to be, and if some little twerp (be it male or female) tells you you're ugly because of your body size I can guarantee you there's a million others out there that will tell you how gorgeous you are. That however doesn't mean that you can drive yourself to unhealthy levels, in either direction of the scale, just because that's what makes you happy. Maintain a healthy lifestyle because your health is all you have. Body will just have to follow with it.

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  Posted by r.d. Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:15am PST

  During my pregnancy, I gained 60 lbs, and have only lost 25 lbs of that so far. While I admit I'm still working on losing the remaining 35 lbs. or so, it is more important to me to be healthy. I eat healthy, quit smoking, and get outside with my baby and enjoy nature. I may not be the thinnest woman around, but endurance-wise I can get outside and run around and not be out of breath, red-faced, or sick like some of my thinner but less active friends.

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  Posted by Hildegard Merrill Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:58am PST

  Whenever I think of diet I go to the store and buy food for "for my diet". All I think about is food. Like being in love with a chocolate eclair. Many times I eat, even when I am not hungry. I do better not thinking about it. Luckely, I do not care about sweets and ice cream. U could live on green beans and fish. So I change my eating habit somewhat and eat more vegetables. I concentrate on avoiding white. The more color my food has the better. Yhat works for me and I don.t watch the amount. If I do, I will eat more. I am naturally greedy

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  Posted by sita Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:13am PST

  i definitely agree that it's hard to loose weight and keep it off AND that more than anything it's a lifestyle change. So because of that of course it's going to take a while. My boyfriend once told me your trying to change a way of eating, working out, and weight that you've gained for the past 22 years there's no way you can change all of that in days or weeks (I would probably say even months too). It's now been 2 1/2 years since I've tried to be healthier. Thankfully lost about 40 pounds and have reached a healthy weight... I now definitely watch what I eat and exercise more. I still love junk food but am realizing that french fries just don't have the same appeal. (weird huh!!!) Still not model thin and actually don't want to be... wouldn't mind losing 15 more lbs, but that's just so I'll be out of the borderline healthy range and can afford to gain a few pounds if it happens or when I get pregnant.

  But yeah I guess my advice is baby steps: 1 pound a week is what worked for me. Don't beat yourself up if you find you don't loose weight or *gasp* gain some back. Little by little introduce healthier options in your diet... you'll probably even get to the point that you'll be craving the whole grains and veggies instead. And in whatever you do or how you look respect yourself. I took pride in being the bigger girl in my step class... because it almost fel like a challenge that I had to lose even more weight.

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  Posted by RELENTLESS Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:23am PST

  Good Lord!! "You're beautiful just the way you are" / "I have trouble losing weight and it's hereditary" / "Metaboloism slows as you get older". What a load of crap! Weight loss is hard work. Diet and exercise ain't easy and both are required. If YOU want to lose weight then YOU have to put in the effort. If you're looking for excuses then, by all means, print these posts and put them on your refrigerator door. It'll make it easier to talk yourself into having another Krispy Kreme. Yes, you can be beautiful just the way you are but if you WANT to lose weight then get off your a$$ and do it. Yes, metabolism does slow as you age to the tune of about 4% per decade. Not earth shattering but an easy excuse. Heredity, please. All that means is you're more suseptible to weight gain so you'll have to be more diligent and work harder. If you're not willing to put in the work you won't see results.

  I'm not a trainer or someone who's been thin all my life. I'm a 6'1", 37 year old male who stopped looking for excuses and started looking in the mirror. I'm currently 190 lbs with a resting heart rate that hovers in the low 40's. I work my butt off 6 days a week in the gym for an hour to an hour and a half. I don't leave until I've burned at least 800 calories. That's my daily minimum. Anything else is a bonus. It takes work, work and more work.

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  Posted by Brittany Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:47am PST

  As you get older, losing weight becomes more difficult. The younger you are, the faster and easier it is to lose weight and keep it off. I am 17 and I lost 80 pounds about two years ago because I was obese. I look great and feel great, but i do understand everybody's dilemma that may not be mentioned is binge eating. It is an eating disorder and most people who have lost a significant amount of weight have trouble keeping up those habits and fall back into bad eating habits. i have that dilemma but I am currently trying to get it under control. i am striving to become a nutritionist so I can help people just like you and me. Good luck to everyone and never give up!

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  Posted by LeahF Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:11am PST

  I lost a lot of weight about 10 years ago. The easiest way to lose it and KEEP it off is to buy one of those plastic plates that have the sections seperated. Parents usually buy them for thier kids. You put a whole grain in the smallest section, a protein in the other small section, and fill the large section with veggies. Walk....walk....walk. Use a fitness ball to sit on, not a chair. It works your abs. Also, drink water. Eliminate all juice and soda, calorie free doesn't mean it's good for you. It is full of a chemical that makes you keep the weight on. Don't get down if you don't lose 2o pounds this week. It took a long time to get that size, it's going to take a bit to take it off!

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  Posted by tam Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:41am PST

  I use Nutrisystem 1 week a month, I am 40 with a slow thyroid, and though, the foods taste terrible, it helps because I eat alot of fruit/vegs to help make up for being hungry on the plan, and it works for me, I've lost 31lb and have kept it off this way.

  I buy ala carte' and only the 4 or 5 things that I like, so, it's only about $60, and I walk in the evenings.

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  Posted by littledaddy'sgirl Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:17am PST

  when i started my diet in august/2008, i was 196 pounds at 5'7. today i am 167 pounds and my diet consists of the treadmill for 30min, and the exercise bike for about 15min, 4 times a week at the ymca. i basically eat what i want (only smaller portions), cook more at home, and drink plenty of water(sometimes adding kellogg's protien water mix, or crystal light drink mix that added green tea(delicious!). i love being able to breathe now, wear clothes that are more comfortable and basically live life better. my goal is to maintain a 160 pound frame. some people say even that's overweight for my height, but it's comfortable for me.and no matter how big or small, we all need to keep activity somewhere in our lives. because what i have noticed is that when i neglect my body, it neglects me back.

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